Am I bottoming out? What I can I possibly do to fix this? (Photos)

Dear KCL1610,

bottoming out occurs when the implant falls below the current breast crease or inframammary line. It's more likely to happen with inframammary incisions, which is why I try not to use the inframammary approach to any breast surgery.

Bottoming out can also occur if an implant is too large for the breast pocket. That is why it is important to choose an implant size that's correct for your body. I perform numerous measurements in the office to determine optimal implant size for my patient's bodies.

If you are concerned, please check it with your plastic surgeon for reassurance and to further discuss your options and possibility of revision.


Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Hello and thank you for your question.
It is difficult to determine whether you have truly ""bottomed out" without the benefit of pre-operative photographs, physical examination and additional postoperative photographs. Bottoming out occurs because of poor soft tissue support, implant malposition or a combination of the two. Correction typically involves revision of your breast lift, and modification of the implant pocket with repair and possible absorbable mesh placement to provide additional support. For best results, you should consult a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery with extensive experience in revisional breast procedures. Good luck. I hope this helps.